Orna A Donoghue1, Cara Dooley2, Rose Anne Kenny3. 1. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland odonogh@tcd.ie. 2. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. 3. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In many countries, pedestrian light crossings require a minimum walking speed of 1.2 m/s. This study examined the proportion of adults in a nationally representative sample whose usual and dual-task walking speeds are <1.2 m/s. METHOD: Community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years in The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) completed walking speed tests on a GAITRite® walkway (N = 4,909). RESULTS: One third of Irish adults aged 65 to 74 years and 61% of adults aged ≥75 years walked slower than 1.2 m/s. In dual-task walking, 54% of adults aged <65 years and 91% of adults aged ≥75 years walked slower than 1.2 m/s. DISCUSSION: Based on these data, many older people would have insufficient time to cross the road at light-controlled pedestrian crossings. Increasing the time provided would be an advantage for many older pedestrians.
OBJECTIVE: In many countries, pedestrian light crossings require a minimum walking speed of 1.2 m/s. This study examined the proportion of adults in a nationally representative sample whose usual and dual-task walking speeds are <1.2 m/s. METHOD: Community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years in The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) completed walking speed tests on a GAITRite® walkway (N = 4,909). RESULTS: One third of Irish adults aged 65 to 74 years and 61% of adults aged ≥75 years walked slower than 1.2 m/s. In dual-task walking, 54% of adults aged <65 years and 91% of adults aged ≥75 years walked slower than 1.2 m/s. DISCUSSION: Based on these data, many older people would have insufficient time to cross the road at light-controlled pedestrian crossings. Increasing the time provided would be an advantage for many older pedestrians.